Citizens Blog

With the pandemic still wreaking havoc on the economy, many people are struggling to pay their monthly bills and meet their debt payments. Unfortunately, scammers are exploiting the financial downturn by tricking unsuspecting victims into paying for debts that don’t actually exist, or by using abusive tactics to collect legitimate debts.

Don’t be the next victim of a debt-collection scam. Here’s all you need to know about these scams.

Everyone loves a surprise package, and scammers are taking the excitement out of that experience by using bogus packages as a cover for a nefarious scam that tricks victims into sharing their personal information — and their money.

Election fever is now at an all-time high and so are election scams. From schemes that steal your vote to ones promising dream vacations in exchange for participation in a poll or survey, there’s no shortage of scams centering on elections.

Jury duty is a responsibility that enables courts to serve justice in a fair and efficient way. Unfortunately, it is often used as a cover for scams. Here’s all you need to know about jury duty scams.

Putting aside money each month to use for some vague purpose sometime in the future can be super challenging. Make it easier by creating a spectacular goal for your savings.

Using cutting-edge technology, scammers create bills that look just like the real thing to the untrained eye. Unfortunately, once counterfeit bills are passed, their new owner can become liable for passing them on to someone else.

Q: I’ve heard there’s been an increase in scams through mobile payment apps, like Cash App. Can I continue using these apps safely?

Each year, the IRS publishes the “Dirty Dozen,” a list of tax scams most prevalent during that year’s tax season. This year, with COVID-19 pushing off the federal tax deadline to July 15, the IRS held off publishing the list until early July, and of course it’s loaded with COVID-19-related scams.

Q: The last few months have been really tough on my finances, and I’ve been forced to use my savings for getting by. I’d like to start building these up again, but it’s all so overwhelming. Where do I begin?

Back-to-school season means a flurry of shopping — and scams. As you get ready for school, look out for these scams targeting college students and parents of private school students that tend to peak before the start of the school year.